Is Colonial Place safe?
Norfolk, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Colonial Place as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Colonial Place
“Go. Colonial Place is a scenic, historic residential peninsula bounded by the Lafayette River with a dedicated neighborhood community. Violent crime is rare within its residential interior, though visitors should take normal precautions against opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins.”
Occasional opportunistic property crimes and tidal street flooding during high-water weather events remain the primary localized civic concerns.
About the area
Colonial Place is an established, picturesque Norfolk neighborhood characterized by early 20th-century Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes surrounded by water. It offers quiet, shaded streets, riverfront vistas, and easy proximity to Old Dominion University and downtown Norfolk.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Waterfront Enclave
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Colonial Place
Walk score: 56/100 · Bike score: 68/100
Flat, wide residential roads offer comfortable cycling within the neighborhood, with straightforward connections toward the Elizabeth River Trail in nearby Ghent.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to broader Norfolk municipal averages
- High rate of homeownership, leading to well-maintained properties and active civic involvement
- Scenic, wrap-around riverfront green space ideal for recreation along Mayflower Road
- Quiet, low-traffic residential street grid with mature tree canopy
Cons
- Susceptible to localized street flooding during severe storms and astronomical high tides
- Sporadic vehicle break-ins and theft of unattended bicycles
- Proximity to higher-crime commercial transit corridors along eastern Granby Street
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is rare within the interior residential peninsula of Colonial Place, though unhoused individuals may occasionally be seen along commercial stretches of nearby Granby Street.
What Colonial Place is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very safe and active with residents jogging, dog walking, and commuting along quiet shaded avenues.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and peaceful, with light neighborhood traffic and pleasant conditions for walking.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and generally safe for evening strolls, though lighting can be dim on some tree-shaded side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Calm and deserted; visitors should exercise standard urban caution and park in well-lit areas.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides bus service along the eastern edge on Granby Street via Route 1, though light rail (The Tide) is over two miles south at the EVMC/Fort Norfolk station.
Street parking throughout the neighborhood is free, unmetered, and generally readily available in front of residences without need for garage structures.
Things to do in Colonial Place
- Walk or jog along the waterfront parkway of Mayflower Road with views of the Lafayette River
- Launch a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from neighborhood shoreline access points
- Take a self-guided architectural walking tour to view early 1900s Victorian and Craftsman residences
Local favorites
- Sam's Texas Sub Shop · Deli / Sandwich Shop · 4.6★ (530)Long-running neighborhood staple serving hot steak subs and classic deli sandwiches on the Granby border.
- Virginia Zoo · Zoo / Botanical Garden · 4.5★ (5600)Popular 53-acre city zoo and garden located just across the Lafayette River on Granby Street.
- Hank's Filling Station · Bar & American Grill · 4.6★ (1250)Lively nearby open-air hangout offering craft beer, barbecue, and yard games.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.